William Hamilton

Kerrville ndash Bill Hamilton left this life on Saturday morning, September 20, 2008 at his home.nbsp He was born to Chester Lee Hamilton and Lillie Mae Werner Hamilton in Southard, OK on March 18, 1923.nbsp The doctor wrote on his birth certificate the name William in spite of the fact that his mother had chosen the name Billy Joe.nbspBill attended school through Jr. High School in Eldorado, OK. He then went to Laramie, Wyoming High School, where he participated in all athletics, being cocaptain of the football team.nbsp He was in the National Honor Society, President of his SR. class of 1941, and received a four year scholarship to Wyoming University.nbspBill earned the first 2 years of his Mechanical Engineering degree, then served his country for 3 years in the US Army.nbsp His service began by being shipped to Marsaille, France, into combat in the Vogue Mts, as part of the 7th Army then involvement with the Siegfreid Line, the Battle of the Bulge, and the Brenner Pass in northern Italy, ending the European War.nbsp He received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and various ribbons with Oak Leaf clusters.nbsp This company received a Presidential Citation for the climb to Climback.nbsp Fortunately, the Japenese War ended a few months later.nbspBill was discharged at Fort Bliss, TX and returned to the Wyoming University, finishing up his degree in 1948, and started in the Gasoline Department for Phillips Petroleum Company in Borger, TX.nbsp There, he met and married Melba Colleen Morris, his wife of 57 years.nbspnbsp His working years included residence in Borger, Bartlesville, OK, and Denver, CO.nbsp He retired after 37 years as the Rocky Mt. Region Gas Development Director, based in Denver.nbspnbsp He and Melba then moved into their log cabin in Cuchara, CO, this cabin they had used as a vacation and holiday abode.nbsp They lived there year round for six years before building a home in Kerrville, TX, eventually parting with their much loved log cabin and the high altitudes.nbsp Bill found a special place for his strong interest in building and flying radio controlled airplanes, here in Kerrville, enjoying the comradery of a group of flyers and builders as long as he was able.nbspHe and his wife were members of St. Paulrsquos United Methodist Church in Kerrville for 15 years.nbspBill is predeceased by his parents, his older brother, Chester Lee Hamilton and a younger brother, David Dean Hamilton.nbspHe is survived by his loving wife, Melba Colleen Hamilton of Kerrville daughter, Becky Lynn Henshaw and husband Rodney, of Des Moines, IA, son William David Buzz Hamilton and wife Debi of Fairfield, TX and their daughter Darbi Hamilton of The Woodlands, TX, and his daughter Mary Kay Hamilton Williamson and her husband, John, and sons Samuel Montgomery and Sean Austin of Colorado City, TX.nbspnbspation will be held at Kerrville Funeral Home on Monday, September 22, 2008 from 68PM.nbspFuneral service will be held at St. Paulrsquos United Methodist Church, Kerrville, on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 2:00PM.nbsp Interment will be in the family lot in Fairfield Cemetery, Fairfield, TX.nbsp

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